Re: File Limits for iSeries

["Mark S. Waterbury" <mark.s.waterbury@xxxxxxx>]

Hi, Karl:

This maximum number of records per file is because the record number is 
stored as a 4-byte (32-bit) unsigned binary number internally.  (That 
number includes "deleted" records, since they still occupy a "slot.")  
However, this is a "per member" limit. But a physical file can have up 
to 32,767 members.  (See the CHGPF command to change the maximum number 
of members.)

You might also want to change files with many millions of records (using 
CHGPF) to specify REUSEDLT(*YES). Otherwise, do you really want to have 
to do a RGZPFM on a file with that many records? (Even with the 
"reorganize while active" support in V5R3 and above.)

As of V5R3, i5/OS DB2/UDB supports "partitioned tables" where you can 
distribute the records among several files (or members), using a "hash" 
or other algorithm to determine in which "table" (or member) this record 
"belongs" based on the primary key. So, you can now have DB2 tables with 
more than 4-billion rows.

You will also need to change your applications to use embedded SQL to 
work with such partitioned tables.

See 
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/iseries/v5r3/index.jsp?topic=/dbp/rbafoappmax.htm 


And search the V5R3 or V5R4 InfoCenter for "partitioned tables" to learn 
more.

Does that help?

Mark S. Waterbury


Karl Lauritzen Jr. wrote:
> We have a file that is getting 5 million new records per year (image
> system), plus some history PF with members that have over 60 million
> records (10 years company production) and it concerned me as to iseries
> maximums. I looked up and a PF can have up to 4.2 billion records. So I
> have time. 
>
> But I am just curious but has anyone ever seen a system or had one where
> you got close to the limit of records in a PF (4.2 billion) or the size
> of a LF access path?  Why a maximum too made me curious. I would think
> you would run out of disk before a maximum of records.
>  
> Oh and from a real business standpoint not a run away application. 
>
> Karl Lauritzen Jr.
> National Lloyds Insurance Company
> American Summit Insurance Company
>  
>
>